Agriculture & Sustainable Development in India - Tapa dura

Following independence in 1947, India's agricultural policy could broadly be classified under three phases. Phase one, immediately after independence, witnessed several institutional changes through land reforms and the initiation of major irrigation projects. The second phase, since the mid-1960s, aimed to increase agricultural productivity to attain self-sufficiency in foodgrains through technological revolution and government support for credit, marketing, and extension services. This was followed by the current phase, since the late 1980s, which makes agriculture more market-oriented. The agricultural sector occupies a key position in the Indian economy. It provides employment to about 65% of the working population of India. Unfortunately, India's economy has witnessed a loss of dynamism in the agriculture and allied sectors in recent years. The sector, as a whole, has showed poor performance in the recent years. The government has launched programs to rejuvenate agriculture and improve farm income. Accelerating the growth rate of agricultural production is seen as central to a more inclusive growth. This book traces developments in Indian agriculture during the post-Independence period. It explains the key reform measures undertaken for the modernization of agriculture.

Prasad is an associate at Vault Reports. She graduated from Yale University in 1997 with a degree in English, with a concentration in Women's Literature.